What sizes of bird and buck OK for .410 full choke?
- Thread starter greenr18
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Sunray
Member
The shot material will be determined by the manufacturer. Steel is required for migratory birds. May not be for other game in your State.
Buck shot out of a .410 is particularly useless due to the very small number of pellets. Usually 4 in 2.5" shells. 5 in a 3".
Bird shot will be the same as any gauge. Just a whole lot fewer of 'em.
Buck shot out of a .410 is particularly useless due to the very small number of pellets. Usually 4 in 2.5" shells. 5 in a 3".
Bird shot will be the same as any gauge. Just a whole lot fewer of 'em.
oneounceload
member
OK as in safe to shoot? Just about anything. Ok as in quality of the pattern? That's between you and the pattern plate. I'd probably not shoot steel through a full choke as that could damage the gun - depending on the gun and what the manufacturer states.
I've had good luck with my hand loaded 3" 410 shells with 5 pellets of 00 buck. All five pellets hit a paper plate at 20 yards out of my Mossberg 500 with full choke. I don't think you will even find steel shot in 410, there are bismuth shells available in 410 if you need a non toxic round.
mokin
Member
What do you use it for?
I like my .410. I have a Rossi "Matched Pair" with an 18 inch .410 barrel. Part of the fun is taking the gun out and patterning it. I have a life size rabbit stencil I spray on a piece of cardboard and try different loads and distances.
I would avoid buckshot. Just not enough pellets. I take mine out to hunt rabbits. Shots are generally less than 20 yards away. I have found 7, 6, and 4 to be plenty for bunnies. I have used lead and steel, loaded by Federal to take them.
I like my .410. I have a Rossi "Matched Pair" with an 18 inch .410 barrel. Part of the fun is taking the gun out and patterning it. I have a life size rabbit stencil I spray on a piece of cardboard and try different loads and distances.
I would avoid buckshot. Just not enough pellets. I take mine out to hunt rabbits. Shots are generally less than 20 yards away. I have found 7, 6, and 4 to be plenty for bunnies. I have used lead and steel, loaded by Federal to take them.
You might be surprised with the pattern you get from buckshot out of a .410. Since it is stacked in a neat row, it tends to pattern pretty well, even though there are only a few pellets. Steel shot is also fine, but it is pretty ineffective since you can only get about 3/8 oz of #6 steel in a 3" .410. Winchester and Federal both load it.
You have to remember the spec for a full choke in .410 bore is calibrated at 25 yards, rather than the 40 yards used for every other gauge, so there isn't really that much constriction.
You have to remember the spec for a full choke in .410 bore is calibrated at 25 yards, rather than the 40 yards used for every other gauge, so there isn't really that much constriction.
sappyg
Member
Buckshot is usually 000 lead. As rule303 mentioned you might be surprised by the pattern. It witll be fairly tight compared to 12 gage 00 from a cylinder choke at say 15 yards. The buck I'm using is .375 and fits perfectly in a standard wad or shot cup. Don't laugh but instant grits make a great filler material as I only load 2-3 balls in a shell. Remington loads a very good 4 ball 000 buck round BTW.
Since the gun runs out of gas quickly I'm using 9 shot for clays in hopes of playing the odds with shot count. For live birds I would lean towards 8 shot for quail or dove. I've read that others prefer hard plated shot for hunting and clays. Haven't tried it yet but it does sound very positive.
Since the gun runs out of gas quickly I'm using 9 shot for clays in hopes of playing the odds with shot count. For live birds I would lean towards 8 shot for quail or dove. I've read that others prefer hard plated shot for hunting and clays. Haven't tried it yet but it does sound very positive.
oneounceload
member
Split the difference and try 8.5 - works really well in small payloads. I use that for 3/4oz 12 and 20 gauge loads and it smokes targets.
loose noose
Member
Just don't shoot slugs thru a full choked .410.
Why?
USAF_Vet
Member
also, why?
My wife uses her dad's 11-48 .410, full choke, shooting slugs for deer.
Sighted it in at the range, 50 yards, had no issues.
I always hear about the potential for catastrophic damage shooting slugs through a full choke, but I have yet to see any actual evidence as to why, just anecdotes and gun counter fairy tales.
Carl N. Brown
Member
"... gun counter fairy tales ..."
Barber shop gun experts are worse.
Factory .410 rifled slugs are downsized to pass through a full choke safely. But, if I were to put together a purpose built .410 slug shotgun, I would opt for a 22" - 24" cylinder bore expecting slightly better accuracy than a choked bore just because that's the general consensus of gun counter and barber shop experts.
ADDED: I do keep .410 buckshot, Winchester factory loads, three 000 in 2 1/2 inch and five 000 in 3 inch. I have shot them at paper targets from an M6 Scout .22/.410 18" barrel with full choke, and the three buckshot 2.5" seem to spread less than the five buckshot 3": the shot were closer together.
Barber shop gun experts are worse.
Factory .410 rifled slugs are downsized to pass through a full choke safely. But, if I were to put together a purpose built .410 slug shotgun, I would opt for a 22" - 24" cylinder bore expecting slightly better accuracy than a choked bore just because that's the general consensus of gun counter and barber shop experts.
ADDED: I do keep .410 buckshot, Winchester factory loads, three 000 in 2 1/2 inch and five 000 in 3 inch. I have shot them at paper targets from an M6 Scout .22/.410 18" barrel with full choke, and the three buckshot 2.5" seem to spread less than the five buckshot 3": the shot were closer together.
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I have shot all kinds of stuff through a full choke .410 from #9s to #2s and every buckshot up to 000
Slugs are fine including the Brenneke .410s (Yes, they make them).
What I wouldn't shoot is STEEL shot of any size or some of the hardened "Personal Defense Load" stuff companies are now offering for the Judge and Governor revolvers.
I'v shot the PDL stuff through my open choke Savage 42 and the stuff is loaded much hotter than your average 3" field load.
Steel and PDL loads MIGHT split the muzzle of a tight full choked .410 bore gun, especially an older gun.
On a newer gun the stuff MIGHT bulge the muzzle.
I'm not willing to try it on my own full choke /410 guns to find out.
Slugs are fine including the Brenneke .410s (Yes, they make them).
What I wouldn't shoot is STEEL shot of any size or some of the hardened "Personal Defense Load" stuff companies are now offering for the Judge and Governor revolvers.
I'v shot the PDL stuff through my open choke Savage 42 and the stuff is loaded much hotter than your average 3" field load.
Steel and PDL loads MIGHT split the muzzle of a tight full choked .410 bore gun, especially an older gun.
On a newer gun the stuff MIGHT bulge the muzzle.
I'm not willing to try it on my own full choke /410 guns to find out.
Apple a Day
Member
If I said I was selling a non-NFA 9mm subgun/carbine that fired 4-round bursts out of a 20 or 24 round magazine the tactical crowd would be lined up around the corner to buy one. If you mentioned that the 'Carbine" was actually a .410 shotgun that holds 5 or 6 rounds of 000 buckshot they'd all turn up their noses. Essentially the same thing but not as sexy to some people
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loose noose
Member
Sorry folks that's just what I was told when I purchased my Mossberg Model 500 .410, ended up ordering a 22" slug barrel. Fact is my Dad used to hunt with a 12ga full choked Remington Model 11, using rifled slugs, and swore that it was accurate out to 100 yards or even further for whitetail deer. I don't think the barrel cost me even $100.00, and I had a bunch of .410 slugs on hand.
Sheepdog1968
Member
As for the defensive loads, with the popularity of the Tarus Judge, I know Winchester has spent time optimizing a 410 defensive load. I'd look at those and suspect they even do better in a shotgun vs revolver. Not sure what birdshot would be optimal. Often I think we over think what to run in a shotgun.
sappyg
Member
That PDX load is a real handful in a judge believe me. Others may disagree but I found it somewhat unpleasant in a Judge but very doable in a long gun.
Also, herters has a 2 1/2" 3 ball buck load that's a bit lackluster though it makes the Judge a more comfortable proposition.
Also, herters has a 2 1/2" 3 ball buck load that's a bit lackluster though it makes the Judge a more comfortable proposition.
Sav .250
Member
The 410 certainly has it`s place in the field with limitations. J s/n.
Did the .410 gauge Model 500, 22" slug barrel come with adjustable rifle sights?
If so, what is the Mossberg Product number for that slug barrel?
loose noose
Member
RMc, it came with fiber optic sights that were adjustable for elevation only. I believe you can get the information on the Mossberg web sight. Note the barrel is not rifled and it is a smooth bore. Fairly accurate out to 35 yards though.
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